Transcript

2.
Mental Health First Aid USA
A Collaborative Partnership
National Council for Behavioral Health
Maryland State Department of Health
and Mental Hygiene
Missouri Department of Mental Health

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What Is Mental Health First Aid?
• Help offered to a person developing a mental
health problem or experiencing a mental
health crisis
• Given until appropriate treatment and support
are received or until the crisis resolves
• Not a substitute for counseling, medical care,
peer support, or treatment

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Goals of Mental Health First Aid
• To increase mental health literacy
• To decrease the stigma of mental illness
• To help individuals know how to access
community resources to deal with mental
health issues

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Program Milestones
• Created in Australia in 2001
(University of Melbourne)
• Currently in 17 countries
• Piloted in the U.S. in 2008
• Youth Program Piloted in 2012

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Why Mental Health First Aid?
• Mental health problems are common.
• Stigma is associated with mental health
problems.
• Individuals with mental health problems often
do not seek help.
• Many people are not well-informed about
mental health problems and don’t know how
to respond.
• Professional help is not always on hand.

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What Is a Mental Disorder?
A mental disorder or mental illness is a
diagnosable illness that
• Affects a person’s thinking, emotional state, and
behavior
• Disrupts the person’s ability to
- Work
- Carry out daily activities
- Engage in satisfying relationships

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What Is Depression?
Major depressive disorder lasts at least for 2 weeks and affects a
person’s
• Emotions, thinking, behavior, and physical well-being
• Ability to work and have satisfying relationships

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What Is Psychosis?
• Psychosis is a mental state in which a person
has lost some contact with reality.
• The person may have severe disturbance in
thinking, emotion, and behaviors.
• Psychosis usually occurs in episodes and is not
a constant or static condition.

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Without Early Intervention
• Poorer long-term functioning
• Increased risk of depression and suicide
• Slower psychological maturation and slower uptake
of adult responsibilities
• Strain on relationships and subsequent loss of social
supports
• Disruption of education and employment
• Increased use of alcohol and drugs
• Loss of self-esteem and confidence
• Greater chance of problems with the law
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26.
What Are Substance Use Disorders?
Substance use disorders include
• Dependence
• Abuse that leads to problems at home or work
• Abuse that causes damage to health
The use of alcohol or drugs does not mean a person has a
substance use disorder.
Alcohol use disorders are three times as common as drug
use disorders.

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Co-Occurrence
• Substance use disorders can co-occur with
almost any mental illness.
• Some people self-medicate with alcohol
and/or other drugs.
• People with mood or anxiety disorders are
two to three times more likely to have a
substance use disorder.

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Mental Health First Aid
The Action Plan
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Assess for risk of suicide or harm
Listen nonjudgmentally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help and other support
strategies

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Assess for Risk of Suicide or Harm
The most common crises to assess for in
persons with psychotic symptoms are
 Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
 Disruptive or aggressive behavior directed to
other people
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Helping a Person Who Is Agitated,
Disruptive, or Aggressive
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Assist the person by remaining calm.
Talk in a clear, concise way.
Use short, simple sentences.
Speak quietly in a nonthreatening tone at a
moderate pace.
Answer questions calmly.
Comply with reasonable requests.
Maintain your own safety.
Do not do anything to further agitate the person.